Ariz. officer killed in tractor-trailer crash

The truck driver slammed into the back of the cruiser, despite cones, squad lights, and an officer waving him away

By PoliceOne Staff

YUMA, Ariz. — A Department of Public Safety officer was killed Monday when a tractor trailer caused a four-vehicle accident, slamming into the back of the officer’s squad, which was parked on the shoulder of the interstate.

Officer Tim Huffman, a 14-year veteran with DPS in Yuma, was killed instantly on impact, according to AZ Central.

“Our officers face death every day,” DPS spokesman Bart Graves said. “It’s very dangerous. Our DPS family across the state is in a deep state of grief tonight.”

No other vehicles that were hit in the collision were occupied, and no one else was hurt, including the truck driver, who is being questioned, according to the article.

Huffman and two other officers had been investigating a previous accident, which caused a lane on the interstate to be shut down. Orange cones blocked the lane, as well as three cruisers with their lights flashing and an officer in the street waving traffic through.